About This Book

The stories of thirty-three women who enthralled society’s artistic geniuses and thus inspired the creation of some of the greatest works of the past two centuries. American Lee Miller was a successful model before traveling to Paris to become the apprentice, lover, and muse of Man Ray; Nancy Cunard, British writer, heiress, and political activist, was a lover to numerous members of the twentieth century’s art and literary circles, including Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot; Parisian-born artist and poet Dora Maar had a profound influence on her infamous lover, Pablo Picasso. While the lives of these women were very different in most aspects, they shared the ability to awaken fervor in and to influence the work of their Pygmalion painters, writers, or photographers. The vision of the artist and his muse remains an integral part of our notion of artistic creation, and the collaboration of these interwoven destinies continues to fascinate historians, art appreciators, feminists, and general readers alike.

About the Author

Farid Hamed Abdelouahab, an art and photography historian, has published over twenty illustrated books.

Author Bookshelf

Reviews

"The real strength of this book is the layout as well as the selection of muses. A rich and diverse amount of photographs and artworks as well as a rich and diverse group of women are masterfully showcased. The scandals, the heartbreaks, the subtle manipulation – it’s all here. If you like a shot of scandal with your history, you’ll enjoy this book." ~The Licentiate